The UK government has therefore already taken measures that are, for example, supposed to prevent containing or reducing the number of legal migrants coming into the country, including a big raise in the income threshold for sponsoring family members. This is part of the Home Secretary’s commitment to reform the immigration system, reduce unsustainable levels of net migration, and ensure that new arrivals do not become a burden on the public purse.
Starting this Sunday, the minimum income threshold one will need to sponsor a family visa applicant nearly doubles, rising from £18,600 to £29,000. That will rise again to £38,700 in early 2025, to be in line with the salary requirement for a skilled worker visa.
Yash Dubal, director of A Y & J Solicitors in London, predicted such a fee rise and urged applicants to apply as soon as possible to avoid further increases in visa and NHS fees. The government plans include a tightening of the student visa route; this tight route would impact around 300,000 arrivals a year.
The staged increment of income requirements offers families predictability in planning while at the same time ensuring the financial independence of migrants settling in the UK. Most importantly, the government points out the emphasis on the integration of the newcomers into society and their contribution to the country’s economy through the necessity of self-sufficiency, resulting in little reliance on public help.
The sponsoring family members or the applicants holding permission to work should be able to earn a minimum of £29,000 in the UK and be in a position to supplement the income with savings to meet the required income threshold. These are measures aimed at equilibrating family reunification with fiscal responsibility and economic benefit.
